reams
In This Issue
Register Now to Attend Our Pro Irrigation & Landscape Show
2016 Economic Forecast for Irrigation & Landscape Professionals
Irrigation Business Software Buyers Guide
Atlantic Water Gardens University
REAMS On-Line Training
Retaining Employees & Helping Them Grow
Make the Most of Your Facebook Cover Photo
5 Rules for Recruiting and Retaining Landscape Employees
 
 
    
 
 
2016 is shaping up to be a great year for landscape professionals. 

Recent survey results showed many contractors enjoyed strong growth in 2015 and are bullish about prospects for the new year.

Several important economic drivers are supporting continued growth.   A stronger job market, low interest rates and low inflation are driving growth in housing market, both in sales of homes and in home improvements.  

Consumer confidence, a measure of willingness to spend on improvements, has also gotten stronger.  Also helping the industry to grow will be a steady increase in disposable income, and an aging population that will continue to grow their use of professional services.

Be aggressive in your preparations for spring, particularly in recruiting quality team members who can help you get the work done.   Let us know how we can help you have your best year ever!

Download the full economic report below for all of the details.   
    
The REAMS Team  
 
Register Now for Our Pro Irrigation & Landscape Show
 
REAMS and Papio Valley Nursery invite you to the 2016 Pro Irrigation and Landscape Show. This year's show will be held on Tuesday, February 16th in Omaha NE at the LaVista Convention Center by Cabelas. 

Registration 8:30am
Keynote      9:00am  
Seminars    11:00 - 12:00, 1:00 - 3:30
Trade Show 9:00 - 4:00

Visit with the industry's top vendors, leave with fresh business ideas and hear what's new and exciting for 2016.   Enjoy delicious food and giveway items from vendors.

There will be a small fee of $25 per person to attend the show this year.

 
NIBCO 2016 Economic Forecast for Irrigation & Landscape Professionals    

How will the economy impact your business in 2016?

Leading industry supplier NIBCO has commissioned nationally-recognized economist Andrew Duguay to provide us with regional forecasts specifically targeted to the landscape and irrigation professional.

Get valuable insights to help your planning for the year ahead.

Click here to download the report PDF 
 

 
Irrigation Business Software Buyers Guide

Wouldn't it be great if you could double the likelihood of growing your revenue by 20% in 2016? If you invest in software, you could. According to the 2015 Green Industry Benchmark Report, users of HindSite's software were twice as likely to have experienced year-over-year revenue growth in excess of 20%.

Why? Because software helps you eliminate time-consuming, inaccurate paperwork and replace it with efficient electronic processes. You'll sell smarter, schedule faster, communicate better with your field employees and invoice faster.

If you haven't invested in software, now's the time. Don't know how to evaluate software? Check out HindSite's free eBook, Irrigation Software Buyer's Guide and learn:
  • The anatomy of great software
  • 8 questions to ask vendors
  • Software trends
 Download the booklet here.
Atlantic Water Gardens University
 
Atlantic Water Gardens University is a free online educational resource that offers great information on all aspects of water features for every audience, from beginning waterscapers to seasoned professionals with years of experience - something for everyone.
 
AWG is divided into four Colleges - Construction, Pumps, Filtration, and Biology - which in turn are organized into Departments or categories of water feature information, each with levels from beginner to advanced. For example, in the College of Construction, students can choose from Departments of Ponds, Pond-free, or Decorative Water Features, then dig into basic definitions and types, compare advantages of different styles, examine equipment in depth, then find step-by-step instructions that outline actual construction.
 
Topics of importance to all users, like pump sizing/selection with Total Dynamic Head calculation, are covered in meticulous detail, while less critical information, like the animals commonly found around ponds, are basic surveys. After finishing each section, students are encouraged to test themselves and are awarded a Certificate of Completion after passing the final examination of each College.
 
Atlantic Water Gardens University is constantly adding information to keep current with the latest advances and technologies. Coming in 2016, a new Business College will debut, with information on estimating costs, time to construct, materials, along with updates to existing colleges. Take a look, or a second look - it's always worthwhile!


Retaining Employees & Helping Them Grow
Tips from the team at Kichler Lighting

 Finding qualified crew members is often tough in the landscape business - making it more important than ever to retain employees who deliver and exceed your expectations. Try these tips to keep your top performers satisfied:
  • Find out what motivates them: ask them how they'd like to be rewarded for their hard work. You may think that cash is king - but maybe clocking out at 3 p.m. on a Friday is more valuable.
  • Invest in their development. Teach them not only about the jobs they need to do today - but also about what you're doing. Encourage them to attend training sessions. Ask them to go on calls with you.
  • Plan for the future. Ask your employees' opinions on what they'd like to do next. Then let them know how you plan to help them reach their goals, with a clearly stated timeline for development.
  • "Let me ask your opinion on something." These words can speak volumes to an employee, and they demonstrate that you respect them, their experience and their opinion. Then, when you take someone's advice, give credit when his/her opinion makes a difference.
Kichler offers hands-on training sessions to enhance installer skills. Visit landscapelighting.com      
 

Make the Most of Your Facebook Cover Photo
 
 
Click to see pixel dimensions to use 
When someone comes to your Facebook page, your cover photo is likely the first thing they see. That's why it makes sense to take advantage of this prime real estate and maximize a free branding opportunity.

Don't just throw your logo up there and then let it collect dust.

By changing your cover image frequently, your page can:
  • Be seen by your followers in their newsfeeds.
  • Highlight offers that are current.
  • Educate fans on current news.
  • Keep things fresh and drive traffic to your page.
With these things in mind, here are five ways to keep your cover photo fresh and interesting:
  1. Showcase your company and a different product or service every few weeks to give your followers a better idea of what your business offers.
  2. Include a call-to-action message and arrow to a tab for email signup to grow your list.
  3. Humanize your brand by showcasing your team members on the cover image.
  4. Push fans to your e-commerce sales tab by highlighting current promotion.
  5. Create a themed cover image in keeping with the season or a holiday.
5 Rules for Recruiting and Retaining Landscape Employees in a Hot Market

1)  Make a list of reasons why a candidate should choose your company.  Making a list will make these easier to remember when you're chatting with a good prospect.   Remember everyone says "they have great benefits" or "this is a great place to work".  Be specific.

2)  Define what you're really looking for.  Motivation, drive, good manners, and work ethic are more important than knowing how to assemble sprinklers or plant a tree.

3)  Recruit continuously.   Always advertise for new team members even when you're fully staffed.  Employees are increasingly mobile, so you need to be looking all of the time.

4)  Do quarterly performance reviews.  Have a conversation about how the person is doing; what would make his/her job go easier; what suggestions he/she has for improvement.

5)  Stay competitive.   Don't lose your best person to a better offer from a competitor.  Give raises to stay competitive (and do them proactively rather than waiting to be asked).  Institute "golden handcuffs" performance incentives to encourage employees to stay and prosper.